Sunday

Semester is coming to an end at my teaching assignment. A little too stretched preparing notes for the final classes and conducting them. Though the days before Sunday was class free, I had to spent them on class preparation, the occupation continued till Sunday noon. By evening I went to town to our Cathedral church where they were getting ready for the feast of the Christ the Kind with procession and such. Since I had to take the 8 PM bus to my village, I couldn't stay there for long.

The grace to accept that no one and nothing is perfect, the humility to understand the folks around us are even more so and we ourselves are flawed in many ways. Perhaps the greatest gift one can receive is to have the humbleness to understand and live accordingly. No easy task, as we know, many lives have perished around this rock of destruction. In terms of a mate, to receive someone who thinks and lives that way is a blessing, indeed.

Such were my thoughts when I was walking around my town after the visit to the church in the evening, taking pictures..

The month of November is coming to an end so very fast and we are on December quickly and Christmas is here. Enjoy the advent my dear friends.

Sunday

It was raining heavily the last few days. Sunday morning was overcast and cloudy. What more to say, woke up late and did not go to church. Spent the day practicing some stars and snowflakes for the Christmas cards.

By evening the sun broke free, by that time, the bus to town had already left. So, a day, more or less, at home in the village, alone. 

We were poor and uninformed without any friends or powerful relatives. We followed You and Your ways and you blessed us with wisdom and knowledge and gave us the courage and grace to hold ourselves when our country became independent and doors were opened to all to everywhere.

Yes, there were moments, when we doubted ourselves and our own worth when we competed against the best of our country who came from different backgrounds, You were there for us, in our hearts as a person, a distinct personality, perfect like a Guru, consoling and guiding us.

Thank you, Lord, our journey is on, please don't let us do anything to loose You and ourselves. 

Cyclone Bul Bul Sunday

The week that went by was full with work. The coming week is going to be same with the classes where I teach will term off for the semester. I was preparing class notes late into the Saturday night and woke up very late for the Morning mass on Sunday. On my way to St. Joseph's in the evening the shared auto rickshaw took a level cross halt and I could walk around a bit before we resumed our trip.  It was a beautiful golden evening in our village a perfect ending to a warm sunny day. One couldn't help thinking of the misery of the unfortunate folks of Bengal where cyclone BulBul have made the landfall. We were facing the same predicament two weeks ago. 

At St. Joseph's I came across the very spirited and enthusiastic elderly Sr.  who lit up my evening. I do not know why I never could talk to her earlier.  Thank you My Lord, for sending Angels my way and also for giving me enough to buy a new phone after the one I lost 60 days ago. It's such a shame I cannot be more careful to not to loose expensive work tools. 

Bless you my friends, may you have the grace to do your thoughts and deeds well. 

Audio Links

Catholic Podcasts

I recently downloaded "the Divine Mercy Prayer" audio file from here. 

Discerning hearts

All Saints/Souls Day

Remembering the Saints and the souls on the first week of November, away from home...

I was hesitant, in-spite of waking up early and getting ready to go to church in the morning, how to get to church on time, transportation in my village was the main turn off. Luckily, while waiting at the bus stop, a man came on a cycle who allowed me to pillion ride him to the next junction from where I got an easy tuk-tuk to the church.

The usually calm priest chose to be stern with a girl from the Children's home, who plays the piano, for coming late and keeping the congregation waiting. He send her back and proceeded with the mass without musical accompaniments.The small church has no replacements nor volunteers as the members are very few.

I felt very happy all along the mass as I could read from the prayer book in the local language which I have been working very hard to learn. A small improvement in my Sunday endearing.

On the street of the small town near my village where I currently live, I have come across a 92 year old homeless Anglo-Indian man who had asked me whether I could buy for him a mouth organ. 

It took me quite a while to honour his request with a Hohner's Ocean Blue. 

The old man had told me he used to play the harmonica a lot and used to consider it as his wife and that he had started playing the instrument from the age of seven. 

The way he started playing the harmonica, the moment he laid his hands on it, more than justified his claim.

Jesus, you opened our eyes to see the world around us and to deal with the people we meet in our lives with love, just as the way You did. Thank you, My Lord, for providing me with enough and blessing me with the mind to go in search of and fulfilling that old man's wish. I pray, My Lord, may you send angels to those like him, especially to those who are old, homeless and friendless, in the hour of their needs.